Understanding Isaiah (Lesson 12: The Vicarious Suffering of Christ [Chapter 53])

Introduction:

Isaiah chapter fifty-three (together with the last three verses of chapter fifty-two) is the clearest and fullest explanation of the gospel anywhere in the Old Testament. Not until Paul penned his epistles in the first century would the church have a more explicit and heartfelt treatise on the substitutionary atonement and vicarious suffering of Christ, on his humiliation, rejection, death, and subsequent glorification. Isaiah is perhaps the pinnacle of the Old Testament documents: in his prophecies we see Christ revealed more clearly than at any other time or place until his actual taking on of flesh to walk among us. If this is the case, then it is also undoubtedly true that chapter fifty-three is the pinnacle of Isaiah. May God fill our hearts with the wonder of seeing and savoring the beauty of Christ and his work of redemption as we stagger in awe before this most precious of prophecies!

Now, all this is not to say that Isaiah fifty-three is revealing something absolutely new: it is just driving back a little more of the misty obscurity surrounding what had been, from the beginning, the sole substance of divine revelation. God’s first words to man, after his fall, signified nothing other than what we are seeing more precisely here in Isaiah – a conquering Messiah would be born of a woman to crush the Serpent and reverse the effects of the Fall; and although mortally wounded in the conflict, he would certainly triumph (Genesis 3:15). In a similar way, God’s first acts after the fall of man set forth in picture form these same realities – hence, his slaying an animal to cover their nakedness, his driving them from his presence in paradise, but opening a way to seek his face through blood sacrifice, and so on. These redemptive realities form the very core of biblical revelation from that time on: the nature of God’s promise made to Abraham, the circumstances surrounding his redemption of Israel from Egypt, the very exile and restoration that Isaiah so often speaks of, all find their meaning only in relation to the work that Christ would accomplish, so beautifully set before us in Isaiah fifty-three. And not only is this message, so beautifully distilled to its central essence in our text, the substance of all biblical revelation; but furthermore, it was the certain understanding and only hope of all the true Old Testament Church, just as it is our only hope today. (cf. Job 19:25; Psalm 16:8-11, as quoted in Acts 2:25-31; Psalm 32:1-2 as quoted in Romans 4:6-8). It is vital that we recognize this truth. To suggest anything less is to do despite to the centrality of Christ and his substitutionary sacrifice of himself upon the cross, for the sins of his people.

Before we get into a verse-by-verse analysis of chapter fifty-three, it may be helpful to summarize in brief the argument from chapter forty-nine (where we left off last week) until chapter fifty-two, verse twelve. In chapter forty-nine we immediately encounter Christ declaring his status as the chosen Servant of the Lord, and speaking of the discouraging fact that Israel as a whole would reject him. In response to this truth, God declares that it is too small a task for Christ to be a Savior to Israel alone: his glory must be displayed among all the Gentiles. Hence, after Israel’s rejection, Christ would accomplish life, salvation, and healing for all the nations, and thus win greater glory for his name. Subsequent to this declaration, God assures (true) Israel that he still has not cast her off forever – no, he has engraved her name on his palms, and will never forsake her. God is the God of Jews and Gentiles, and he will form his true Israel from those whom he has called from every nation. He will deliver these, his covenant people, and destroy all their enemies. Chapter fifty tells us that Israel as a whole will not be rejected because God arbitrarily decided to put them away; rather, because they turned from him in their iniquity, even rejecting the Christ whom he would send. Christ here prophesies of himself that he would meekly undergo this rejection, humiliation and execution, and in the process would secure his own vindication and the justification of all who trust in him. This the saints are commanded to do. Chapter fifty-one tells of the comfort that God holds forth to true Zion, and exhorts the people to remember Abraham. If they would be accounted the true children of Abraham, and heirs of the promised comfort, they must believe as Abraham believed. On the basis of who God is, and as is clearly demonstrated by what he has done in history, final salvation is assuredly promised to the people of God, in spite of the most ardent difficulties that would come their way. Finally, chapter fifty-two speaks of the glorious times of blessing for the church of the future. God would freely redeem his people from captivity, the gospel would go forth, and the consequences of it would be salvation, joy, singing, and sanctification. How would all these glorious blessings come about? Through the work of the humbled and exalted Christ. Which consideration brings us to our text for the day.

Textual Analysis:

  • A general declaration: Christ will prosper and be exalted (Isaiah 52:13)

  • An elaboration: Christ’s success will come through humiliation and will result in the redemption of the nations (Isaiah 52:14-15)

    • The astonishing fact: Christ’s great success involves his incomparable suffering (Isaiah 52:14)

    • The astonishing results: Christ will redeem the nations, bringing the fruits of his success to those who had not been awaiting him (Isaiah 52:15)

  • Further explanation: the great work of redemption examined (Isaiah 53:1-9)

    The reaction to Christ’s coming

    • The typical reaction to Christ’s coming will be unbelief (Isaiah 53:1a)

    • The underlying reason for this is that man cannot come to Christ unless the power of the Lord draws him (Isaiah 53:1b)

    • The overt reason for this is that Christ came in a humble and inglorious form (Isaiah 53:2)

    • Therefore, instead of believing in him, men reject him (Isaiah 53:3)

    The beauty of God’s design: men’s wicked rejection was accomplishing God’s righteous plan for Christ: sin-bearing and vicarious suffering

    • The sufferings of Christ should have been ours (Isaiah 53:4a)

    • But it was God’s plan for Christ to undergo them for us (Isaiah 53:4b)

    • The great exchange: Christ receives the punishment for our sins, we receive peace and healing from his satisfaction (Isaiah 53:5)

    • The need for Christ’s substitutionary suffering: all God’s people have rebelled (Isaiah 53:6a)

    • The solution to our need: the sin of all God’s people was put on Christ (Isaiah 53:6b)

    • Christ’s own willingness to accomplish the Father’s design: he meekly underwent this substitutionary suffering without complaint (Isaiah 53:7)

    • The extent of Christ’s vicarious suffering: he was condemned even to death because of the sins of his people (but his contemporaries were largely ignorant of the significance of his death) (Isaiah 53:8)

    • And not only did he die, but he died as a common criminal, although he himself was sinless and pure (Isaiah 53:9)

  • The reason for redemption revealed: God’s good pleasure (Isaiah 53:10)

    • The Lord took pleasure in crushing Christ (this underscoring the reality of our abominable sins’ actually being placed upon him) (Isaiah 53:10a)

    • Christ was also pleased by this design: he willingly offered himself up (Isaiah 53:10b)

    • Christ was successful in this design: he saw the seed that he had redeemed by his sacrifice of himself, and enjoyed the incorruptible life that he had won for himself and them (Isaiah 53:10c)

    • God the Father was also successful in this design: his perfect will was accomplished (Isaiah 53:10d)

  • The results of redemption displayed: Christ’s incomparable glory among the redeemed (Isaiah 53:11-12)

    • The outcome summed up: Christ wins a unique glory, his people are given a free justification (Isaiah 53:11)

    • The final conclusion: God will give Christ great glory, a people who are his, and authority over all the universe, because he has been fully successful in his task of redemption (Isaiah 53:12)

Conclusion:

God’s people have always been a singing people. There is no better explanation of that fact than the truths we have just encountered in Isaiah fifty-three. The work of Christ on the cross, redeeming his people by becoming their sin and their curse, is the great theme of all the joyful songs of the saints – in Isaiah’s day and ours. The reason Christians sing may be summed up as well as anywhere in the opening line of our song for the night: “I’m forgiven because you were forsaken.” All praise to the King who bled for us!

I’m forgiven because You were forsaken
I’m accepted, You were condemned
I’m alive and well, Your Spirit is within me
Because You died and rose again

Amazing love, how can it be
That you, me King, should die for me?
Amazing love, I know it’s true
It’s my joy to honor You
In all I do, to honor You

You are my King
Jesus, You are my King
You are my King

Written by Billy James Foote. Performed by Newsboys in their album, “Adoration”.

2 Responses to “Understanding Isaiah (Lesson 12: The Vicarious Suffering of Christ [Chapter 53])”

  1. Julie says:
    June 18, 2006 at 8:41 am

    This song is the most amazing song I’ve ever heard. Every time I hear that song “Amazing Love” I cry.

  2. Pitchford says:
    June 18, 2006 at 3:55 pm

    I agree — it’s one of my favorites too.

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